What is Hotel Connectivity?

Hotel connectivity refers to integrating a hotel’s property management system or central reservation system and external suppliers such as online travel agencies, global distribution systems, tour operators, channel managers, and other distribution partners. This connectivity facilitates the seamless exchange of information regarding room availability, rates, inventory, reservations, and other relevant data.

Components Involved in Hotel Connectivity to Suppliers

API Integration: Many suppliers offer application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow hotels to connect their systems directly. Hotel connectivity often involves API integration where hotels can access real-time data from suppliers and synchronize their inventory and rates across multiple channels.

Channel Manager Integration: A channel manager is a tool that enables hotels to manage their distribution channels from a single platform. By integrating with a channel manager, hotels can update room availability and rates across various OTAs, GDS, and other distribution channels in real-time.

Two-Way Connectivity: Two-way connectivity allows for bidirectional communication between the hotel’s system and the supplier’s system. This means that not only can the hotel push updates to suppliers regarding inventory and rates, but it can also receive bookings and other relevant information in real-time.

Rate Parity and Availability Management: Connectivity with suppliers enables hotels to maintain rate parity (consistent pricing across all distribution channels) and efficiently manage room availability. This helps prevent overbooking or under booking situations and ensures a consistent booking experience for guests.

Content Distribution: Beyond basic room inventory and rates, connectivity to suppliers also facilitates the distribution of rich content such as photos, descriptions, amenities, and policies across various channels, enhancing the visibility and attractiveness of the hotel’s offerings.

Payment Integration: In some cases, connectivity to suppliers may involve integration with payment gateways or billing systems to facilitate seamless payment processing for bookings made through external channels.

Reporting and Analytics: Connectivity allows hotels to gather data on booking performance, channel effectiveness, revenue generated from different sources, and other key metrics. This data can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of distribution strategies and optimize performance over time.

Conclusion

Hotel connectivity to suppliers plays a crucial role in maximizing distribution reach, optimizing revenue management, and providing a seamless booking experience for guests across various channels.